Minutes, 23 March 1833–A

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. Christ and many ancient prophets, including Abraham, were described as being high priests. The Book of Mormon used the term high priest to denote one appointed to lead the church. However, the Book of Mormon also discussed...

A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

JS’s later history further indicated that the purpose of purchasing land was to encourage and accommodate the growth of the church in Kirtland. The history stated that this “council was called for the purpose of appointing a committee to purchase land in Kirtland, upon which the Saints might build a

Ecclesiastical organization of church members in a particular locale. Stakes were typically large local organizations of church members; stake leaders could include a presidency, a high council, and a bishopric. Some revelations referred to stakes “to” or...

A specific location in Missouri; also a literal or figurative gathering of believers in Jesus Christ, characterized by adherence to ideals of harmony, equality, and purity. In JS’s earliest revelations “the cause of Zion” was used to broadly describe the ...

Urgency to accomplish their goal was demonstrated during the meeting as participants left to carry out assignments, while the remainder did not adjourn but awaited their return for several hours “in prayer and fasting.”

Consisted of 103 acres formerly owned by Peter French. Purchased for LDS church for $5,000, 1833. Area used to build houses, including JS’s; community buildings, such as new schoolhouse; and House of the Lord. Kirtland residents called area “French farm” ...

Ca. 1774–after 1850. Farmer, tavern keeper, hotelier. Born in New York. Moved to Willoughby, Western Reserve (later Lake Co.), Ohio, 1799. Married Sally. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1811, as one of its earliest settlers. Named as one of town proprietors...

Zebedee Coltrin’s journal states, “On the 23d day of March held a council of highh Priests to investgate the subject of Purch[as]ing the brick tavern and farm owned by Peter French it was agreed to buy it and several othe[r] farms.” (Coltrin, Diary and Notebook, 23 Mar. 1833.)

, where many meetings of JS and other church leaders, including this one, were held throughout 1833. Aside from its location, French’s land was desirable for other reasons. For one, it contained a two-story brick building, which was located on a major road in the area and used as an inn.

Although the purchase of Peter French’s property included the brick home, the church apparently did not have immediate access to the building. The deed stipulated that the sale was “subject to a lease given to Thomas Knight of the brick house and privilege contained in said lease.” (Geauga Co., OH, Deed Records, 1795–1921, vol. 17, p. 360, 10 Apr. 1833, microfilm 20,237, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)

As JS’s history explained, the “Frenchfarm was purchased on account of the facilities for making brick, their being essential to the building up of the city.” (JS History, vol. A-1, 283.)

Though the deed was not signed until 10 April 1833, a council meeting held on 2 April anticipated the acquisition of the French farm and assigned Frederick G. Williams “to be an agent to super[in]tend and employ some person or persons to carry on the brick yard on the french farm and also letting out the farm.”

Ca. 1774–after 1850. Farmer, tavern keeper, hotelier. Born in New York. Moved to Willoughby, Western Reserve (later Lake Co.), Ohio, 1799. Married Sally. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1811, as one of its earliest settlers. Named as one of town proprietors...

for the sale of his property on 10 April 1833. French agreed to sell his land for $5,000. Coe made a down payment of $2,000 and then through promissory notes agreed to pay the remaining $3,000 in two separate payments of $1,500 each.

Along with the justice of the peace, Josiah Jones, Ezra Thayer was a witness to the deed, which enumerated the promissory notes. (Geauga Co., OH, Deed Records, 1795–1921, vol. 17, pp. 38–39, 10 Apr. 1833, microfilm 20,237, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)

One of the notes was due 10 April 1834, and the second was due on the same date in 1835, both with an unstated payment of interest in addition to the listed sum. Because of the high cost of the French farm and the anticipated purchase of two other farms, on 23 March 1833 JS also assigned over a dozen elders to serve missions to both proselytize and acquire funds to help pay for the properties. Of the two minute book entries that record the events of this meeting, the first one, featured here, reports the meeting’s general proceedings; the second denominates the various missionary companionships that were to be sent out as a result of the decision to purchase more property.

Minutes, 23 Mar. 1833–B. Zebedee Coltrin explained that the decision to purchase the farm “made it necessary to call the Elders out of school for the purpose of going again into the world and procuring means for Paying for the farms.” (Coltrin, Diary and Notebook, 23 Mar. 1833.)

Zebedee Coltrin’s journal states, “On the 23d day of March held a council of highh Priests to investgate the subject of Purch[as]ing the brick tavern and farm owned by Peter French it was agreed to buy it and several othe[r] farms.” (Coltrin, Diary and Notebook, 23 Mar. 1833.)

Although the purchase of Peter French’s property included the brick home, the church apparently did not have immediate access to the building. The deed stipulated that the sale was “subject to a lease given to Thomas Knight of the brick house and privilege contained in said lease.” (Geauga Co., OH, Deed Records, 1795–1921, vol. 17, p. 360, 10 Apr. 1833, microfilm 20,237, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)

Along with the justice of the peace, Josiah Jones, Ezra Thayer was a witness to the deed, which enumerated the promissory notes. (Geauga Co., OH, Deed Records, 1795–1921, vol. 17, pp. 38–39, 10 Apr. 1833, microfilm 20,237, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)

Minutes, 23 Mar. 1833–B. Zebedee Coltrin explained that the decision to purchase the farm “made it necessary to call the Elders out of school for the purpose of going again into the world and procuring means for Paying for the farms.” (Coltrin, Diary and Notebook, 23 Mar. 1833.)

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

A gathering of church leaders assembled “for consultation, deliberation and advice”; also a body responsible for governance or administration. As early as 9 February 1831, a revelation instructed that “the Elders & Bishop shall Council together & they shall...

An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. Christ and many ancient prophets, including Abraham, were described as being high priests. The Book of Mormon used the term high priest to denote one appointed to lead the church. However, the Book of Mormon also discussed...

A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...

16 Apr. 1794–9 Dec. 1865. Farmer. Born at Walkill, Orange Co., New York. Son of John Daley and Amy Mapes. Married Almira Barber, 22 Jan. 1819, at Marcellus, Onondaga Co., New York. Moved to Huron Co., Ohio, by 1827. Baptized into LDS church, before 1833. ...

A separate set of minutes taken on 23 March 1833 explained that Daley was to go and “provide all the means in his power to bring about the purchaces in Kirtland.” Coe had previously been tasked in April 1832 to provide the money needed to pay the remaining debt of $400 owed on Frederick G. Williams’s farm before the balance came due. According to Philo Dibble, Coe’s wife, Sophia Harwood, who was not a member of the church at the time, prevented Coe from paying what was apparently their own money to redeem the note. As a result, Dibble, under the direction of JS, sold 560 acres of his land in Elyria, Ohio, for only forty percent of its value in order to make the payment. Whether Sophia was baptized at some point following that episode is unknown, but only a year later Coe was named the debtor in the transaction with French to the amount of $3,000, suggesting that her reported resistance to her husband’s financial involvement in purchasing property for the church had been mitigated. (Minutes, 23 Mar. 1833–B; Dibble, Reminiscences, [4].)

Ca. 1774–after 1850. Farmer, tavern keeper, hotelier. Born in New York. Moved to Willoughby, Western Reserve (later Lake Co.), Ohio, 1799. Married Sally. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1811, as one of its earliest settlers. Named as one of town proprietors...

Consisted of 103 acres formerly owned by Peter French. Purchased for LDS church for $5,000, 1833. Area used to build houses, including JS’s; community buildings, such as new schoolhouse; and House of the Lord. Kirtland residents called area “French farm” ...

A JS revelation dated three months earlier used similar language: “I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall continue in prayer, and fasting, from this time forth.” (Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832 [D&C 88:76]; see also Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 515 [4 Nephi 1:12].)

for the ultimate success of their mission after an absence of about three hours

16 Apr. 1794–9 Dec. 1865. Farmer. Born at Walkill, Orange Co., New York. Son of John Daley and Amy Mapes. Married Almira Barber, 22 Jan. 1819, at Marcellus, Onondaga Co., New York. Moved to Huron Co., Ohio, by 1827. Baptized into LDS church, before 1833. ...

“Mr Morley” is probably Thomas Morley, father of church member Isaac Morley, who owned 34½ acres, primarily in lot 19, which was adjacent to both Elijah Smith’s property and Newel K. Whitney’s recently purchased land in lot 18. Thomas Morley never sold his land to the church, and there is some evidence that his asking price of $2,100 was inflated. Four years later, Morley finally sold the property in question and an additional 35 acres in another township to Nathaniel Milliken for $2,750. Milliken, a member of the church who had been ordained a seventy by the time of the purchase, may have procured the farm with the intent to turn it over to the church. However, by January 1838 Milliken had left the church and the property remained in his possession. (Geauga Co., OH, Deed Records, 1795–1921, vol. 24, pp. 320–321, 2 June 1837, microfilm 20,240, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; Hepzibah Richards, Kirtland, OH, to Willard Richards, Bedford, England, 18–19 Jan. 1838, Willard Richards, Papers, CHL; see also illustration of church landholdings in Kirtland.)

Ca. 1774–after 1850. Farmer, tavern keeper, hotelier. Born in New York. Moved to Willoughby, Western Reserve (later Lake Co.), Ohio, 1799. Married Sally. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1811, as one of its earliest settlers. Named as one of town proprietors...

would sell his farm for five thousand dollars and afte[r] the report of the brethren it was put to vote whether itwasthe property should be purchaced and deceded [decided] in the affirmative it was then agreed that bro

The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...

A gathering of church leaders assembled “for consultation, deliberation and advice”; also a body responsible for governance or administration. As early as 9 February 1831, a revelation instructed that “the Elders & Bishop shall Council together & they shall...

An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. Christ and many ancient prophets, including Abraham, were described as being high priests. The Book of Mormon used the term high priest to denote one appointed to lead the church. However, the Book of Mormon also discussed...

A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...

16 Apr. 1794–9 Dec. 1865. Farmer. Born at Walkill, Orange Co., New York. Son of John Daley and Amy Mapes. Married Almira Barber, 22 Jan. 1819, at Marcellus, Onondaga Co., New York. Moved to Huron Co., Ohio, by 1827. Baptized into LDS church, before 1833. ...

A separate set of minutes taken on 23 March 1833 explained that Daley was to go and “provide all the means in his power to bring about the purchaces in Kirtland.” Coe had previously been tasked in April 1832 to provide the money needed to pay the remaining debt of $400 owed on Frederick G. Williams’s farm before the balance came due. According to Philo Dibble, Coe’s wife, Sophia Harwood, who was not a member of the church at the time, prevented Coe from paying what was apparently their own money to redeem the note. As a result, Dibble, under the direction of JS, sold 560 acres of his land in Elyria, Ohio, for only forty percent of its value in order to make the payment. Whether Sophia was baptized at some point following that episode is unknown, but only a year later Coe was named the debtor in the transaction with French to the amount of $3,000, suggesting that her reported resistance to her husband’s financial involvement in purchasing property for the church had been mitigated. (Minutes, 23 Mar. 1833–B; Dibble, Reminiscences, [4].)

Ca. 1774–after 1850. Farmer, tavern keeper, hotelier. Born in New York. Moved to Willoughby, Western Reserve (later Lake Co.), Ohio, 1799. Married Sally. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1811, as one of its earliest settlers. Named as one of town proprietors...

Consisted of 103 acres formerly owned by Peter French. Purchased for LDS church for $5,000, 1833. Area used to build houses, including JS’s; community buildings, such as new schoolhouse; and House of the Lord. Kirtland residents called area “French farm” ...

A JS revelation dated three months earlier used similar language: “I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall continue in prayer, and fasting, from this time forth.” (Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832 [D&C 88:76]; see also Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 515 [4 Nephi 1:12].)

for the ultimate success of their mission after an absence of about three hours

16 Apr. 1794–9 Dec. 1865. Farmer. Born at Walkill, Orange Co., New York. Son of John Daley and Amy Mapes. Married Almira Barber, 22 Jan. 1819, at Marcellus, Onondaga Co., New York. Moved to Huron Co., Ohio, by 1827. Baptized into LDS church, before 1833. ...

“Mr Morley” is probably Thomas Morley, father of church member Isaac Morley, who owned 34½ acres, primarily in lot 19, which was adjacent to both Elijah Smith’s property and Newel K. Whitney’s recently purchased land in lot 18. Thomas Morley never sold his land to the church, and there is some evidence that his asking price of $2,100 was inflated. Four years later, Morley finally sold the property in question and an additional 35 acres in another township to Nathaniel Milliken for $2,750. Milliken, a member of the church who had been ordained a seventy by the time of the purchase, may have procured the farm with the intent to turn it over to the church. However, by January 1838 Milliken had left the church and the property remained in his possession. (Geauga Co., OH, Deed Records, 1795–1921, vol. 24, pp. 320–321, 2 June 1837, microfilm 20,240, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; Hepzibah Richards, Kirtland, OH, to Willard Richards, Bedford, England, 18–19 Jan. 1838, Willard Richards, Papers, CHL; see also illustration of church landholdings in Kirtland.)

Ca. 1774–after 1850. Farmer, tavern keeper, hotelier. Born in New York. Moved to Willoughby, Western Reserve (later Lake Co.), Ohio, 1799. Married Sally. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1811, as one of its earliest settlers. Named as one of town proprietors...

would sell his farm for five thousand dollars and after the report of the brethren it was put to vote whether the property should be purchaced and deceded [decided] in the affirmative it was then agreed that bro

The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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A separate set of minutes taken on 23 March 1833 explained that Daley was to go and “provide all the means in his power to bring about the purchaces in Kirtland.” Coe had previously been tasked in April 1832 to provide the money needed to pay the remaining debt of $400 owed on Frederick G. Williams’s farm before the balance came due. According to Philo Dibble, Coe’s wife, Sophia Harwood, who was not a member of the church at the time, prevented Coe from paying what was apparently their own money to redeem the note. As a result, Dibble, under the direction of JS, sold 560 acres of his land in Elyria, Ohio, for only forty percent of its value in order to make the payment. Whether Sophia was baptized at some point following that episode is unknown, but only a year later Coe was named the debtor in the transaction with French to the amount of $3,000, suggesting that her reported resistance to her husband’s financial involvement in purchasing property for the church had been mitigated. (Minutes, 23 Mar. 1833–B; Dibble, Reminiscences, [4].)

A JS revelation dated three months earlier used similar language: “I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall continue in prayer, and fasting, from this time forth.” (Revelation, 27–28 Dec. 1832 [D&C 88:76]; see also Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 515 [4 Nephi 1:12].)

“Mr Morley” is probably Thomas Morley, father of church member Isaac Morley, who owned 34½ acres, primarily in lot 19, which was adjacent to both Elijah Smith’s property and Newel K. Whitney’s recently purchased land in lot 18. Thomas Morley never sold his land to the church, and there is some evidence that his asking price of $2,100 was inflated. Four years later, Morley finally sold the property in question and an additional 35 acres in another township to Nathaniel Milliken for $2,750. Milliken, a member of the church who had been ordained a seventy by the time of the purchase, may have procured the farm with the intent to turn it over to the church. However, by January 1838 Milliken had left the church and the property remained in his possession. (Geauga Co., OH, Deed Records, 1795–1921, vol. 24, pp. 320–321, 2 June 1837, microfilm 20,240, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL; Hepzibah Richards, Kirtland, OH, to Willard Richards, Bedford, England, 18–19 Jan. 1838, Willard Richards, Papers, CHL; see also illustration of church landholdings in Kirtland.)